Mining method and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for mining ore of a type which is located in relatively narrow strata within the earth whereby it is profitably disadvantageous to move large quantities of earth so to gain physical access thereto, the apparatus comprising means for sawing away of the narrow strata by a flat elongated endless chain saw mechanism mounted on a pair of carriages riding on rails in parallel tunnels, the mechanism having a thickness of approximately the thickness of the ore-bearing strata and the chain saw extending transversely between the tunnels wherein the ground material is sluiced into the tunnels and a pumping station provided to transport the material to the surface.

D United States Patent 3,620,573

[72] Inventor DesmondDe Villiers Oxford 753,092 2/l904 Neukirch 299/35 33 New Forest Road, Forest Town. 3.459. I 69 8/196) McNulty 299/?0 X Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa FOREIGN PATENTS 21 l. 7 Qfg No 23 6 1969 599.284 3/1948 Great Britain 299 I8 [45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 Primary Examiner-Ernest R Purser [54] MINING METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR ABSTRACT: An apparatus for mining ore of a type which is 3 Claims. 8 Drawing Figs. located in relatively narrow strata within the earth whereby it [52] U S Cl 299/35 is profitably disadvantageous to move large quantities of earth Bi 299/19 so to gain physical access thereto, the apparatus comprising 1 Int Cl 47/08 means for sawing away of the narrow strata by a flat elongated Fieid 299718 '9 endless chain saw mechanism mounted on a pair of carriages 35 4 riding on rails in parallel tunnels the mechanism having a thickness of a roximatel the thickness of the ore-hearin PP y g 5 References Cited strata and the chain saw extending transversely hetvieen the tunnels wherein the ground material is sluiced into the tunnels UNITED STATES PATENTS and a pumping station provided to transport the material to 733,073 7/1903 N6Ukll'CiL: i. 299/19 the f PATENTED NUV 16 IHTI 3,6 20, 573

sum u [1F 4 //Vl/E/V roz DE /Volvo l/ML/EPS OXFORD a relatively thin strata of the earth and which may extend rectilinearly over a long plane of distance.

Priority is claimed under Pat. application No. 65/3788 in the Republic of South Africa and accepted for examination by the Registrar of Patents on Oct. 15, I967.

Heretofore the conventional mining of such mineral deposits required the construction of tunnels, and galleries with branching passageways and drifts at different levels, and thereafter drilling, blasting, digging to remove the mineral-bearing ore out of the mine. It

mineral bearing ore, and that in order to gain physical access thereto the excavations must be sufficiently high so to permit entrance of men and machinery, which thereby requires the rubble and nonore-bearing passages. The stope, i.e. the worked-out part of the mine behind the working face, is again filled up with rubble and nonpaying earth, or simply allowed to collapse as the working face be necessary to leave unthereby decreasing the liability ofaccidents to the miners.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new method for the mining relatively narrow strata of ore Yet a further object is to ing of narrow-strata of ore provide a new method for the minwhich in view of the above feature and thus permit the profitable mining oflower concentrates ofore which heretofore could not be profitably mined.

FIG. 2 is an elevational longitudinal section view of a mine incorporating the present invention in its operation.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of a section of earth including an ore-bearing strata.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3showing the present invention applied thereto for mining out the ore-bearing strata.

FIG. 5 is a section along a strike taken on line 55 of FIG. 3 and showing initially bored openings for receiving a toothed chain of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail of the toothed chain.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section view taken on line 77 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail of a cutting cylinder.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents a mining apparatus according to the present invention wherein there is a chain cutter II that is supported at its opposite ends on mine cars 12 and 13 located in different tunnels or passageways 14 and 15 of a mine 16.

According to the invention, the chain cutter 11 includes a pair of chain-driving gears 17 and 18 between which an endless heavy duty chain 19 is carried. The chain is provided with a plurality of diamond-encrusted links 20 which additionally may incorporate tungsten carbide slugs. The links 20 may be flat cylindrical or of other shape.

A drive mechanism 21 is mounted on each of the cars for selective use, the drive mechanisms including appropriate structure for supporting the gears, and the drive mechanisms being powered by conventional electrical motors with associate controls.

In the ground, the ore-bearing strata may be found to be located in any of various planes due to the geological upheavals and other natural forces that over the ages twist the earth's crust. Accordingly the strata in the mine. may be on a plurality of openings 22 23 between the tunnels or are initially passageways are enjoined enjoined, the

row ram pumps 27.

These ores may then be pulverized and subjected to specific treatments for separation of the valuable minerals from the residue rock.

In FIG. 2, the mine 16 is shown to incorporate a pump column 28 between a pump chamber 29 and a metallurgical plant 30. Pulp stream or slurry 31 flows to the pump chamber 29.

in FIG. 8 a cutting cylinder 32 is shown as a means for grin appropriate driving mechanisms at its opposite ends carried upon the mine carts.

As the mining operation progresses, the space 33 behind the no problems for overhead together.

Thus there has been provided a new method and apparatus for mining of relatively narrow strata of valuable minerals which promotes safety, increases mining profit and permits operation of lower grade ore.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim as follows:

1. Apparatus for mining a relatively narrow ore stratum,

comprising parallel tunnels with carnage rails. a pair of similar 

1. Apparatus for mining a relatively narrow ore stratum, comprising parallel tunnels with carriage rails, a pair of similar carriages with wheels mounted on said rails, chaindriving gears mounted on said carriages in combination with an endless chain mounted on said gears extending generally in straight lines parallel to the stratum and transversely to the axis of the tunnels, each gear being operated by a drive mechanism on said carriages, continuously in the same linear direction, ore-cutting means mounted on the chain, wherein said ore-cutting means being substantially the same thickness as said ore stratum.
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the cutting means comprise diamond-encrusted links encompassing the chain, and wherein the angle between the chain and vertical direction varies of 0* to 90*.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 1 further including means for pumping the ground material from the stratum to the tunnels and a surface metallurgical plant. 